Dog shot after coming on man's property

Published: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 5:42 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 2, 2014 at 5:42 p.m.

OCALA – A dog described as aggressive, and which escaped several times from a yard, was shot by a man who told a sheriff's deputy the dog kept coming on his property.

Deputies went to Laurel Court on Thursday evening and were told by a woman that a man who lives nearby was asking if anyone had seen a brown dog and, if they did, to call animal control. Not long after the man left, she said, she heard two gunshots and saw a brown/tan pit bull coming from a yard with its left shoulder covered in blood.

The man who shot the dog told deputies the dog barks and runs toward people “like he is going to attack” and said it was the third time the dog had come on his property. He said he has young children who play outside and the dog “is very aggressive,” according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report.

The man who was looking for the dog said he had been keeping the 3-year-old dog, named Zeke, for about a week for a friend and that when he is away the dog gets out. The man was cited by animal services and signed Zeke over to the agency.

Elaine McClain, a spokeswoman for the county, said the dog was humanely put down Friday because of his injuries.

Deputies said no one ever called 911 or animal services about the dog.

<p>OCALA – A dog described as aggressive, and which escaped several times from a yard, was shot by a man who told a sheriff's deputy the dog kept coming on his property.</p><p>Deputies went to Laurel Court on Thursday evening and were told by a woman that a man who lives nearby was asking if anyone had seen a brown dog and, if they did, to call animal control. Not long after the man left, she said, she heard two gunshots and saw a brown/tan pit bull coming from a yard with its left shoulder covered in blood.</p><p>The man who shot the dog told deputies the dog barks and runs toward people “like he is going to attack” and said it was the third time the dog had come on his property. He said he has young children who play outside and the dog “is very aggressive,” according to a Marion County Sheriff's Office report.</p><p>The man who was looking for the dog said he had been keeping the 3-year-old dog, named Zeke, for about a week for a friend and that when he is away the dog gets out. The man was cited by animal services and signed Zeke over to the agency.</p><p>Elaine McClain, a spokeswoman for the county, said the dog was humanely put down Friday because of his injuries.</p><p>Deputies said no one ever called 911 or animal services about the dog.</p>